Ronald McDonald was introduced as a clown when McDonald's began using him in 1963.
The character was designed to make the brand more memorable to children and to give McDonald's a recognizable personality on television. Ronald's costume used the chain's familiar red and yellow colors, while his playful behavior made him suitable for family-oriented advertising.
Willard Scott played Ronald in the earliest commercials broadcast in the Washington, D.C., area. Scott had experience portraying a clown on local television, which helped establish the character's original look and performance style. Later performers and designers developed the version known internationally.
Ronald's role expanded after the creation of McDonaldland in 1971. He became the host and friend of a fictional cast that included the Hamburglar and Grimace. The character type itself, however, was clear from the beginning: Ronald McDonald was McDonald's clown mascot.